He didn’t even fucking know what he said. “—Fucking love you. I love you so much. Come for me, love. I need you to come.”
She parted her lips, a look of rapture taking over her as she did as he asked. He groaned and moved inside of her once, twice, and on the third time…he came, too. Stars exploded in front of him, and he collapsed on top of her, making sure to keep his weight off of her.
“Oh my God,” she whispered. “I didn’t think that could ever get any better…but it did. You made it better.”
He rolled off of her, hauling her with him. She ended up sprawled across his chest, one of her legs over his. “That’s because I love you, and will love you for the rest of our lives. I swear it to you, here and now.”
“Holt…” She placed her hand over his heart. “I swear it, too. No more running. No more fear. Just us.”
“Just us,” he repeated. Resting his hand over hers, he squeezed and turned to face her. “You’ve owned this for longer than you’ll ever know.” He patted her hand to show her that he meant his heart. “The moment you sat next to me in the bar, I was lost. I’d been trying to avoid people, but you sat next to me…and I was lost. Or maybe I was found.”
She smiled and kissed his shoulder. “I almost didn’t sit next to you, but then I saw my ex, and it gave me the strength to walk up to say hello to the guy I’d been watching for five minutes.”
“Thank God.” He tipped her face up, memorizing every single detail of this moment. He never wanted to forget it. “Because I love you, Lydia. I love you so damn much.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I love you, too.”
He took a deep breath and leaned in, sealing their words with a kiss. It might have taken a lot of work, and a bit of pain, and a huge leap of faith…
But he’d gotten it. They both had.
They’d gotten their happy ending after all.
Epilogue
Six months later
The timer went off in the kitchen, and Lydia cuddled into the pillow on the couch. It was nine o?
??clock on Saturday night, and she and Holt were late for their weekly date…with Doctor Who. The season finale was on, and he was still in the other room messing around. Sighing, she hit pause on the opening sequence. “It’s on! Hurry up!”
“Calm yourself, woman,” he called out. “Perfection takes time.”
She sniffed the air, and her stomach flipped with an odd mixture of nausea and hunger. A feeling that had become way too familiar over the last two days or so. “That smells delicious. What are you making out there?”
“Apple pie with a hint of cinnamon.” He came out of the kitchen wearing a pair of sweats, messy hair—which she’d messed up, thank you very much—and his glasses. No shirt, thank the Lord. In his hands were two plates topped with the treats he’d promised her. “Made from scratch, of course, because I love you so much.”
“Have I told you how much I love you lately?” she asked, watching him as he came across the room. “Because I do.”
Setting down the plates, he snorted. “You’re only saying that because I bake you delicious things.”
“That’s not true,” she protested. “You’re also amazing in bed.”
And out of it.
He laughed. “Well…I can’t argue with that.” Kneeling beside her, he rested his hand on her forehead. “I really shouldn’t have touched you tonight, though. How are you doing? Still feeling sick?”
“Um…yeah.” She swallowed hard and fidgeted with the blanket he’d pulled over her before going into the kitchen. “But don’t worry. I’m okay. I’ll feel better soon, I’m sure. The pie will help.”
Something flashed across his eyes, and he cocked his head to the side. She still loved it when he did that. “What was that look?”
“What look?” She lowered her head. “I don’t know what look you mean.”
“You hesitated. And there it was again.” He cupped her cheek and studied her. “What’s wrong, Lyd?”
Crap, he was on to her. But she hadn’t wanted to tell him like this. “N-Nothing. I was just thinking before answering, is all.”
“Okay…if you say so. But when you change your mind, I’ll be right here waiting.” He stood up and sat on the couch, lifting her feet so he could slide underneath them. As soon as he was situated, he picked up the plates and handed one off to her. “I’m ready to start the show, if you are.”